By Brian Delaney
Ithaca Journal
December 1, 2009
Cornell-Bucknell Preview Capsule
Matchup: Cornell (5-2) at Bucknell (4-3), 7 p.m., Wednesday
Radio: WVBR (93.5)
Coach: Steve Donahue (10th season)
Last time out: Chris Wroblewski hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, and Cornell scored the final nine points of the game to beat Drexel, 61-54, on Sunday in Philadelphia.
Probable starters: Louis Dale (5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Senior, Guard), Chris Wroblewski (6-0, 180, Soph., G), Ryan Wittman (6-7, 215, Sr., F), Adam Wire (6-5, 228, Jr., F) and Jeff Foote (7-0, 265, Sr., C).
Key reserves: Geoff Reeves (6-4, 180, Sr., G), Mark Coury (6-9, 240, Sr., F/C), Errick Peck (6-6, 215, Fr., F), Max Groebe (6-4, 200, Jr., G).
Statistically: Wittman ranks first all-time in the Ivy League in three-point field goals made with 288. He leads Cornell in scoring at 17.1 ppg. ... Foote is averaging 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. ... Cornell is 22-22 all-time against Bucknell. ... Five opponents not in the Big East are averaging 60.2 points per game against Cornell.
Scouting Bucknell
Coach: Dave Paulsen (second season)
Last time out: Bryson Johnson scored 19 points off the bench, and Bucknell used an 18-0 second-half run to beat Wagner, 85-61, on Saturday.
Probable starters: Darryl Shazier (6-foot, 178 pounds, junior, guard), Bryan Cohen (6-5, 199, Soph., G), Stephen Tyree (6-3, 188, Sr., G), Joe Willman (6-6, 201, Fr., F), Patrick Behan (6-8, 229, Sr., F)
Key reserves: G.W. Boon (6-4, 215, Jr., G), Mike Muscala (6-10, 223, Fr., F/C), Bryson Johnson (6-1, 181, Fr., G), Enoch Andoh (6-8, 251, Soph., F/C).
Statistically: Leading scorers are Shazier (12.4 ppg), Behan (12.4), Cohen (11.0) and Johnson (9.9). ... Cohen is shooting 57 percent from the three-point line (13-23). ... Bucknell is shooting 78 percent from the free throw line as a team. ... Top rebounders are Behan (6.4 rpg) and Willman (5.6). ... Cornell will be the Bison's second Ivy League opponent. They lost at Columbia on Nov. 24, 73-59. ... Tyree was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-08.
Outlook
Bucknell already has more than half as many wins through seven games as it did in 30 last year (7-23). The big problem was road games, where the Bison were 1-15. Sojka Pavilion is a different beast, though, something Cornell knows it well. The Big Red lost there two years ago, 88-73, and were defeated 83-39 in 2006. Donahue has never won there.
Bucknell is on its way back up, and will likely play Cornell much tougher than last year's 75-64 loss at Newman Arena, where the Red led by as many as 22 in the second half. Foote poses a significant matchup problem in the middle.
"That's difficult for everybody in the Ivy-Patriot leagues," Donahue said. "How are you going to game plan against Jeff? That's something we want to make sure we do a good job of getting opportunities for him."
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